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Machine Binding Tutorial

There are lots and lots of binding tutorials. Lots. So I’m going to skim over binding basics fairly quickly in order to share with you how I machine bind my quilts to look almost hand sewn.

I do all my quilts this way, so by now I’ve become fairly quick at it. I still love a hand-stitched binding, but I’m more confident that my machine bound quilts can withstand lots of washings and use from my family. I always machine bind baby quilts…because we all know that baby quilts get washed all.the.time.

First you’ll need to square up the edges of your quilt. I lay my cutting mat on the floor or table and straighten up my edges with my rotary cutter and ruler. I cut my binding strips 2.5″ x the width of the fabric and trim off the selvages. To figure out how many strips you’ll need, add up the length in inches of all four sides of your quilt + 20 inches. Then divide that number by 42″ (the width of fabric).

Lay your fabric strips right sides together as shown, sew a diagonal seam from corner to corner, trim the corner, and repeat until all of the binding strips are sewn together into one long strip. Then press that whole long strip in half, wrong sides together.

Sew the binding onto the quilt FRONT first.

Pin the binding to a side of the quilt, matching the raw edges and leaving about a 10″ tail. Start sewing under the pin using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Use a walking foot.

Keep sewing until you reach a corner, and stop stitching and backstitch 1/4″ before the corner/next side of the quilt…it’s important to get that 1/4″ of unsewn space at the end! Lift the binding strip up as shown making a diagonal fold, then pull the binding strip back down creating a fold at the top, pin. Start sewing down the next side at the top using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

When you get back to where you started, stop sewing about 10″ from where you started, leaving a unsewn tail. Fold the bindings to meet in the middle of the unsewn space, press with an iron or finger press…enough to make a crease. Open the strips, and match the crease marks and pin the strips right sides together. Sew down the crease marks, trim (make sure it’s sewn correctly before you trim!), and press the seam. Place the strip back on the quilt and finish sewing the binding on.

You can also sew these together with a mitered edge…I don’t bother because this method is so quick for me now. It looks complicated and its really hard to explain/take photos of…but once you try it you’ll get it.

This is what your quilt will look like now:

Now turn the quilt over and we’re going to stitch the binding down onto the BACK of the quilt.

Choose a place to start, and fold the binding strip over until it’s PAST the 1/4″ seam line that you made sewing the binding onto the front and pin. This part is important…if you don’t pull the binding edge past that seam line…you’ll get stitches in your binding on the front.

(the other seam line in the photo is the stay-stitching after I’m done quilting…ignore it)

Sew right along the edge of the binding on the back…you are trying to sew to the left of the seam line always. If you pull that binding past the seam line and sew right long the fold of the binding strip…you should be fine.

Keep sewing until you reach a corner, stop 6″ before the corner, fold the bottom edge up, then the side edge over creating a nice mitered corner and pin. Sew to the corner, leave your needle down and turn to sew down the other side.

Keep on sewing until you’re back at the start and you’re done! If you did it right (it takes some practice!) the binding will look like this on the front/back.

See no stitches in the front binding? All you can see is a nice straight line of stitches in the quilt, and it blends in nicely with the quilting.

If you don’t stay to the left of the seam line when your sewing the binding down on the back, this is what happens…you’ll get some stitches in your binding.

It’s a very easy and fast method to sewing bindings, and it looks way better than sewing the binding down on the front of the quilt with a visible seam line in the binding.

Doesn’t that binding look nice on the quilt front?? Hopefully it’ll work for you as well as it has for me!

i will start binding my quilt ( in 2 hours!) at my city’s quilt and fabric shop where I have much more room to work on my BFF’s wedding quilt which is an extra long queen sized. ! Much bigger than any quilt I have made to date. Why haven’t I seen this way to bind on the reverse before?? It looks simple but we shall see. I will be taking my walking foot with me.Thank’s for the help!!!!!!

is this kinda like stitching in the ditch? can you do this from the front and get it more like in the ditch using the bernina #10 edge stitch foot? i must confess also, i sometimes round the corners of the quilt and sew it that way, without mitered corners … shhhh .. don’t tell! darlene

Sort of, you can stitch from the front and try to make sure you catch the edge of the back, but I like the look better of no stitches in the front binding (stitches will be on the quilt top but usually blend in with the quilting) so I stitch it down on the back.

This is a great tutorial! I made a quilt for my daughter and I wish I had known about this method before I put the binding on it! I'm making a quilt for my cousin, and will definitely use your method to finish that one. Thanks so much!

Thanks for a great tutorial; I like your method so much more than any of the ones that leave you with a seam down the binding so I shall have to give it a whirl. I do love a handsewn binding though; somehow it gives me time to say goodbye to the process of making the quilt and embrace the finished item!

Wish I had this method up my sleeve a couple weeks ago when I had a baby quilt to bind in a night. I think I'll have to give it a go on some smaller items first so that I'm ready for the next quilt! Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful work! Love how colorful the quilt is that you used in your tute!

Got all excited when I saw the pins you use. I use them quite often (of course have lots of pins, all shapes and sizes). I every now and then teach kids with a friend and we finally decided that the button-topped pins are prerequisite on the supply list. Kids have a hard time pinning and those pins really help.

I also work very pt at Hancock Fabrics and I promote those pins quite often. I do tell them though that they can bend…..

Yours is the first machine sewn binding that I actually like the look of. I've tried a zillion and one ways (including this method) and mine never look good AT. ALL. But FWIW, I've sewn a million baby quilts, with a million hand sewn bindings and they've held through the washes ok. :)

Thanks so much for this tutorial. I thought the stitches were supposed to go on the top of the binding, and I never liked that look, so I sewed them down by hand. I'm going to try your way now. It looks so good, and I also like your way of doing corners. Thanks again

Thanks for this wonderful tutorial – excellent pictures and explanation. I got a new sewing machine for christmas that I am waiting impatiently for it's arrival. It has a walking foot and I can't wait to try this binding method !Love the colors in this quilt too.

Ha! I tried a new method to sew on a binding this weekend, the one on Red Pepper Quilts, and was terrible at it. I need to see what I'm sewing. Had to rip it out but didn't want to rip the seams from attaching the binding to the quilt. This method is what I ended up with. Now I feel a little better.

Have you ever tried a 2 1/4" binding? That's my preferred width, but it probably just makes it a bit more challenging. I like your method for the corners…it makes much better sense than the method I was taught.

I've always wondered how to do this to make it look as good as hand sewing the binding to the back! This looks great and your tutorial was very well done. Thanks so much. I'm definitely using it for my next quilt.

Great tutorial! I have a question about your "stay-stitching" around the edge of the quilt before binding. I've tried it, but always wind up with a pucker or two, so I finally just stopped doing it, depending instead on the quilting to hold everything in place. Can you explainthe advantage of stay-stitching? Thanks for all your great tips!

Thank you for this tutorial. I tend to sew on the front binding more than not. It's frustrating. I will continue to try and I love the way you sew your tails together. It has been so hard for me I almost gave up quilting. I decided to sew them across. Your quilts are wonderful!

Thanks so much! I will refer to this for the next machine binding I do. I did three the weekend before Xmas and used a zigzag stitch–UGLY (IMO; the family didn't mind a bit, though). I really love the look of a hand-turned binding, so yours definitely appeals.

Thanks for the tutorial! I always do machine binding but have always done it the opposite way… sewing the binding on the back of the quilt first, but I agree that it looks much better without the seam running through the binding on the front. I will have to try this out for my next quilt.

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I have used the technique where you are supposed to stitch over the top of the binding on the front and it is so hard to do! I've only made two quilts, but this method looks so much easier and prettier! I will definitely try it out on the two quilts I plan on making for Christmas gifts for this year!

Haven't had much luck machine binding yet, but I am definitely going to try this. Seems much easier to keep the stitching off the binding on the front than to try to keep the stitching on the binding on the back. (If that makes any sense.)

WOW! That is so simple. I've always done it the same way, but once I've flipped it to the back and pinned it down, I'd always done the stitch in the ditch from the FRONT. I much more like the way you did it. It seems like it helps you control the backing looking smoother if you stitch it from the back – Awesome step by step pics – thanks so much!!! Jenn

I like to use my fancy stitches when machine binding, mind you I also do a much wider binding than most people, the smallest width I use is 3" since I believe the binding is an integral part of the over all look. I really recommend to reverse this process if you want to use fancy stitching and do the binding finish on the front rather than the back since the fancy stitches tend to be more difficult to handle and you don't want boo boo's on the front of a quilt lol! Thanks for the quick walkthrough, I am going to try your method on a couple of small projects and see if I like it better :)

Your tutorial was really helpful. Thank you. The only part I didn't quite follow, and it's because I am a complete beginner, is the part where the two ends of the binding strip is joined together. I can't exactly tell what you did there after pinning the two ends together at the creases. How do you stitch the two pieces together, by hand down the crease lines, with the tails up in the air to be cut off later? Then there would be raw edges then. The tails don't appear to be tucked under and sewn down, after being trimmed. Thanks again for your great tutorial. It's really helpful to beginners like me.

Thank you for the tutorial! I don't have the patience for hand binding and this method leaves a much cleaner look. Also, I have never really caught on to joining the ends–I've always just overlapped them and I have never liked the end result. I was stuck at first until I caught on to opening the strips then creasing and sewing. I will continue to use this method–thanks again!

thank you for this great tutorial .. i have just finished my second ever quilt .. the first one i hand stiched the binding on the back but the one that I just finished this rvo (a small baby quilt) i used this technique !!!! finished in no time !!!

I combined this with another tutorial to complete my first binding today! I have a question though–how far over are you supposed to fold the binding to the back? Should the fold be right against the quilt sandwich?

hello…you actually forgot to say in the instructions that you first stitched all the way around the quilt to hold all layers together. I couldn't work out why , when you turned it over to stitch the last and other side, , that there were 2 rows of stitching, and you pointed to just one row, saying.. stitch OVER this line…. now I know why you had two rows of stitching….

This tutorial just helped me sew my first ever machine binding on a quilt. as I have a few baby quilts in the near future to complete I think this will be the preferred method of binding from here on in :) Thanks so much for writing this post.

I am so in awe with your binding tutorials. I had googled self binding since I am quilting my first ever quilt. I took a class on binding the past weekend to help with this first quilt and it was not all that helpful. No handout was given to go by when u get home to help and the instructor was not very good at explaining the process but your tutorial is 100% right on. I so understand now. Thank u, thank u, I thank God for u. Loved the self binding tutorial as well. God bless u and ur talent.

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I just finished my 9th quilt, and decided to try a different method of binding — for all of my other quilts, I've just folded the backing over to the front and stitched it down thinking that that was the easiest method. This method was SO much easier, faster and looks so great! I was so pleased with the results, I just had to thank you for this awesome tutorial!

This method is definitely the best, I've been doing binding this way for nearly 50 years! Your instructions are very clear. I would add to make sure your bobbin thread color blends well with the fabric of the front side. Good tutorial!

I had never liked the thought of machine binding… I've done my binding my hand for 30 years! But a couple months ago I was in a real hurry to finish a charity quilt and I stumbled upon your tutorial… now I'm hooked. I finished it in less than an hour with amazing results. THANKS!

Thank you so much for sharing this here! I really need to bind a quilt for my brother. I was just thinking about to trying a machine binding cause it can be done quickly by me as well. This method is so clear and easy to follow and you know what now? II just have to follow you. :)

Thank you for the binding tutorial. I am going to try it on my Christmas mug rugs. I don't like sewing binding on anything (tried a few times), but it might be the same as with zippers .. just need practice!?? By the way, I love the name of your blog!!

Have sewn several quilts, had them quilted and they have sat waiting for binding. I finally bit the bullet and looked for tutorials online. I really wanted to do it all by machine (it will get a lot of wear) and found yours. Loved the idea and after a whole afternoon (binding was already made) I did it this way. Love it and it will be my go to from now on. Thank you so much for sharing. P.S. Most of the others I had found for machine application involved attaching the binding from the back and doing final sewing from the front. Did not like the look of that. Thanks again.

I have a suggestion. Reverse the process. Sew the binding on the back of your quilt the same way as shown above. There will only be the nice, neat sew line on the binding on the front and on the back……well looks somewhat like part of the quilting.

I actually prefer this way because then there are no stitches in the binding on the front of the quilt! It looks exactly like it would on the front of the quilt if you had hand stitched it to the back. It takes some practice to not get any stitches in the binding…but by now I’ve got it down pat! Both methods work great and I love both though!

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I used it for my first-ever quilt, a gift for a new baby, and I never would have finished it in time or felt confident that it was machine-washable without this method.

I just want to say thank you for having this! I have saved it and I look at it each time to review before I do my binding. I must say that I enjoy binding more and appreciate your wonderful, excellent and precise instructions! Much appreciated!!!

Hi, I have a question about something I didn’t understand in your tutorial. When you are explaining this part: “Open the strips, and match the crease marks and pin the strips right sides together. Sew down the crease marks,” I don’t understand what you mean. The picture that goes along with that description shows the 2 unsewn edges pinned together. I don’t understand how it goes from that to the next picture where it’s completely finished. Let’s say each strip is like a V shape (on its side) and you’ve pinned one side of each V shape together. What part do you sew and what part do you cut off? I don’t see where you’ve matched the crease marks or how you could sew them down? I mean I’m guessing you have one side of each V pinned together where the crease marks are, but I don’t get how they’re sewn together from that. Can you elaborate or perhaps show some other explanatory pictures?

I am new to quilting and I found your tutorial very clear and helpful except that one part tripped me up. Thank you!

Hi Sharon! There are a few ways to match and sew the ends of the binding together. This way, you just sew a straight line where the two ends of the binding meet…so where the two ends of the binding meet, you make a little mark or pin, then unfold the strips and sew them right sides together…just as if you were piecing two pieces of fabric together. Then re-fold them and sew the binding strip down. OR you can attach the strips with a diagonal seam. Here is another great tutorial that shows sewing the binding strips together that way: http://www.canoeridgecreations.com/2013/02/double-fold-binding-tutorial-part-one.html She has great pictures of that part!

I cut my bindings 2 1/2 in. but when I sew to the front, turn to the back, the back binding is always so much wider so my seam line on the front isn’t close to the binding like yours. Any suggestions? You said you’re making your bindings at 2 1/2. I don’t think I’m folding them over tighter than usual. Thanks!

So do you mean it feels like you have too much binding, or too little? I usually have just enough to fold it over to the back, and just pull it across the seam line on the back and sew it down. Make sure you’re using a 1/4″ seam when you sew it to the front, and if you feel like you have too much or too little you can always cut your binding smaller or larger. I also don’t like to have my binding tight and snug against the quilt edge when I pull it around to the back, I like a little bit of wiggle room for when it’s washed and shrinks up.

I was using this same binding method, except stitching in the ditch on the front of the quilt. Then, on the binding on the back, my lines turned out wonky and there was too much space between my seam and the edge of the binding. I’m going to flip it over and sew from the back like you do in this tutorial! Can’t wait to see the results!

This tutorial is so helpful! It’s my new favorite way to bind a quilt. It looks neater and seems faster than other methods I’ve tried. I’m finishing up a baby quilt now. I know you wrote this in 2013 but I just came across this on Pinterest in 2017! Thank you!

[…] to each side of your quilt with raw edges together. There is a great tutorial on how to do this here. (You’ll find the whole binding process much simpler and easier if you use a walking foot on […]

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[…] 2¼” strips but this time I wanted to try sewing the binding entirely by machine following Allison Harris’ tutorial . I followed her instructions, cutting and joining 2½” strips. Having stitched the binding […]

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[…] Personally, I really like binding a quilt by hand because not only does it create a clean, blind finish, but it’s also mindless sewing and pretty much the only time I sit down to watch a movie or TV. But binding a quilt by machine can be efficient and look equally clean and tidy. For more tips and explanation I have a Machine Binding tutorial here. There is another great machine binding tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew. […]

[…] For your binding you’ll need 25.5cm / 10″ of fabric. Cut this into four strips each 2.5″ tall. I like to machine sew my binding on by sewing it to the back of the quilt first and then flipping it to the front and edge-stitching it down. This is a really great tutorial for how to machine sew binding. […]

[…] Finished! The Up From Here baby quilt is complete. Some things I might do differently next time, but overall, quite happy with how this one came out. Definitely worthy of being given as a baby gift. And, other than finishing up the one that was already started, I don’t think I’ll ever be hand stitching binding again. Thank you to the folks at Cluck, Cluck Sew! […]

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